would nod and bow when my chaperon

me walking. And I must admit, I
ed encouragement. Later they would
« notes over the convent garden walls.
re was one young attache of the Spanish
ation who was so handsome and so en-
ting that it was hard to refuse his
sosal. Mother was in England, but when
heard of my crush, I was ordered to
rn to New York and meet her.

was put on board the Willie Roosevelt,
ig fivemasted sailing ship. We were
sty-seven days sailing around the Horn
sre we sighted New York harbour.
‘hen it was that mother disclosed that all
money was gone. We were penniless.
was far too proud to appeal to my step-
er, so she went to work in a shirtwaist
‘ory.

ATTRACTED By STAGE

was only sixteen but I knew I must help
.e way. I read an ad. in a newspaper. it

change of the weather, my mother used to
say. I had red-gold hair and violet eyes and
long black lashes. I wore pretty clothes.
Soon I began receiving offers to appear in
variety show houses.

I received an offer at a good salary with
a large advance to “go West.” The wander-
lust was strong in me. It had always been.
So I signed a contract and headed for the
Northwest.

I remember my first night in a variety
theatre. I signed a little book when I
checked in. I didn’t know what it was for.
I went back to the dressing room after my
numbers on the stage to await the next
show. Suddenly my bell was ringing. I was
told to sit in one of the boxes. An old school-
mate joined my table. “Will you have a
bottle of wine?” he invited. “Oh, no, thank
you,” I replied. “I do not drink wine. I only
drink lemonade.” A bottle of wine costs
five dollars and the box waiter all but

iwson, in 1901, was the hilarious heart of the rich gold-country. “
> miners came for relief from the long, lonely hours on their claims.

rew their gold dust recklessly about.

To its theatres and dance halls
They laughed, drank and

And I was queen of that laughter and gaiety! There were .

whistles and cheers when I appeared on the street, or drove my team through town.

J: “Chorus girls wanted. No experience
essary.”

Dancing was not as difficult then as it is
ay. I answered the ad. and was immed-
ely given a job at eighteen dollars a week.
ft on a road tour without telling mother.
three weeks the company was stranded
Philadelphia. The manager had run off
th the company’s salaries, and I found
self with less than 25 cents to my name.
Desperate, another dancer and I begged a
e on the ferry to Jersey City. There we
ked some trainmen into letting us sneak
‘ide in a freight car. Mother forgave me
en I arrived home, only because she was
glad to see me alive.

My next job was at Coney Island, where
vas the page-boy who pulled the curtains
‘ the “Living Picture” act.

I was in and out of love with every

IFTEENTH EDITION

fainted. My commission would have been
$1.25 a bottle.

I went back to my dressing room and
began to cry. What was I supposed to do?
One of the girls explained the set-up. We
were not only to sing and dance, but be-
tween the acts we were to drink with the
customers on a percentage commission. She
also showed me how to pour the drinks
into the spittoons when the customers were
not watching.

Srars IN VICTORIA VAUDEVILLE

I was next booked into the People’s
Theatre in Seattle. Two weeks later I was
asked to play at the Savoy in Victoria. That
meant “stock.” I was the company’s sou-
brette. I had to present two new flashy
songs each week, and work in the come-on

trade.

Full Dinner—or a Snack
THE BEST OF FOOD WITH THE
BEST OF SERVICE

Magazines and Tobacco
Buy “The Shoulder Strap’’ Here

WESTWELL’S

Duncan, B.C.

Phone 1 Box 574

DOBSON’S LTD.
COWICHAN’S PAINT HEADQUARTERS

Glass — Wallpaper — Signs
Painters and Decorators

PHONE 639 P.O. BOX 122
191 Kenneth St. DUNCAN, B.C.

J. LINDSAY LOUTET
GENERAL INSURANCE AGENT
Every Kind of Insurance Written

e
131 CRAIG ST. DUNCAN, B.C.
P.O. Box 530 Phone 227

(CECIL BRADSHAW & CO.)

COMMERCIAL HOTEL

MR. and MRS. I. MacGREGOR

Proprietors

LICENSED PREMISES

Telephone 6

DUNCAN B.C.

ISLAND DRUG STORE
BERT MENZIES

An Up-to-Date Stock of Drugs and
Medicines—Nyal Remedies

Prescriptions Carefully Dispensed

DUNCAN BRITISH COLUMBIA

Telephone 604

GRAY MOTOR COMPANY

AUTOMOBILE SALES AND SERVICE

DODGE TRUCKS
DODGE AND DE SOTO CARS
INDUSTRIAL MOTORS
Government St. Duncan, B.C.

| ss

COMPLIMENTS OF

CECIL CAFE

Bill Martin, Chef

Where Good Food Is
Unexcelled

Duncan, B. C.

Page Twenty-three